Angola 'bans' Islam, Muslims, becomes first country to do so

The reports regarding the banning of Islam in Angola has since been denied by Angola Embassy officials in the US.

Reports of a ban were sparked off when the Angolan culture minister was quoted as saying Islam had not gone through the registration process mandatory in the country. The Angolan government began demolishing all structures that were built without proper documentation, planning, procedure etc. Some of these structures included religious shrines.

According to a US state department report, titled 'Angola 2012 International Religious Freedom Report' Angola's constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom. However, the report also states, "Religious groups must petition for legal status with the justice and culture ministries. Legal status gives religious groups the right to act as juridical persons in the court system, secures their standing as officially registered religious groups, and allows them to construct schools and places of worship. By law, a religious group must have over 100,000 members and be present in 12 of the 18 provinces to gain legal status. Religious leaders must provide information on their group's doctrine or philosophy, organizational structure, and physical location."

According to several newspapers, the African country of Angola has become the first country in the world to ban Islam and Muslims.

The Angolan Minister of Culture, Rosa Cruz e Silva was quoted by news agencies and Angola newspapers as saying, "The process of legalisation of Islam has not been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human rights, their mosques would be closed until further notice."

As part of the ban, the Angolan government ordered the demolition of the mosques in the country.

According to Silva, the decision was the latest in a series of efforts to ban "illegal" religious sects in the country. Silva's statement was made during her appearance last week at the 6th Commission of the National Assembly.

According to the minister, the move was necessitated in order to fight the emergence of congregations whose worshipping is contradictory to the customs of Angola culture.

Not just Islam, many other faiths which have not been legalised will face closure of their houses of worship.

Silva further said, "All sects on the list published by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in the Angolan newspaper 'Jornal de Angola' are prohibited to conduct worship, so they should keep their doors closed," she was quoted by Cameroon Voice?.

"In addition, we also have a long list of more than a thousand legalization applications," she added.

Speaking about it, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos said, "This is the final end of Islamic influence in our country."